Child Safety System

ABSTRACT

A system for child safety relating to a child safety seat that is in communication with the internal wiring or computer system of a vehicle such that when the vehicle ignition is turned off and the child safety seat is engaged, an audible alert is emitted through the vehicle speakers.

CONTINUITY DATA

This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/426,026, filedon Apr. 17, 2009 and priority is claimed thereto.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a child safety system that integrates achild safety seat connection into the wiring of a vehicle such that anaudible and visual alert is triggered when the vehicle ignition is inthe “off” position while the child safety seat is engaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Child safety is paramount to most parents and guardians. This isespecially true when it comes to vehicle safety. In fact, numerous lawsrelate to child safety in vehicles. Perhaps the most notable are lawsrequiring child safety seats to be installed and used for smallchildren. But a problem has developed where otherwise mindful andresponsible parents become distracted and ultimately leave their childrestrained unattended in a child safety seat of a vehicle. As such,there is a need for an alert mechanism that is seamless to employ andintegrated into the internal wiring or computer system of the vehicle.

According to statistics, 15 to 25 children in the United States sufferfrom “death by hyperthermia” upon being left unattended in a vehiclechild safety seat. Thousands of other children have been saved beforesuccumbing when accidentally being left in a child safety seat. Thisperiod of time can be relatively short number of minutes to many hours.Studies have shown that most parents involved in such issues are in factresponsible and attentive parents who on that particular day are upset,busy, or otherwise confused or distracted by events that end up changingthe normal course of a schedule. This problem was exacerbated by a trendtoward mandatory child safety seats beginning in the early 1990s afterpassenger-side airbags were deemed dangerous to children. Studiesdescribe such parents as mothers and fathers of all races andethnicities, rich and poor, professional and working class. In 2008,this phenomenon even occurred three times in one day. Despite the guiltand grief associated with such incidents, parents also have beenprosecuted. The point is that “death by hyperthermia” is a very realdanger that needs a simple and seamless system to help prevent suchincidents.

Many cases relating to such incidents do not necessarily occur in theheat of summer. Children restrained in vehicles have succumbed tohyperthermia in many types of weather, to include 60 degrees F. As such,there is a need for a system that offers an automatic alert forsituations where the vehicle ignition is turned off and a child safetyseat is engaged. In this manner, the system is not overly prominent butrather a regular feature associated with the child safety seat andassociated vehicle. In that way, a parent or guardian would onlyconfront the system when the child safety seat is engaged and theignition is turned off. This is particularly true with an internal andautomatic system check relating to the physical components. The presentinvention solves this need by placing a child safety seat connectioninto the child safety seat. A wired or wireless conduit connects thechild safety seat to the vehicle in such a way that when the ignition isturned off and the child safety seat is engaged, an alert will beemitted through the vehicle speakers. A flashing light on the dashboard,which also can be linked with an existing alert such as no-seatbeltalert, also is envisioned.

The need for the present invention is compounded by the fact that thereis not a seamless alert system that can solve the problems associatedwith the issue of accidentally leaving a child in a car safety seat andthe potential for “death by hyperthermia.”

U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,157 issued to Best on Oct. 17, 2006 is a car-seatoccupied baby-on-board indicator alarm. Best places a weight sensor onthe driver's seat so that when a driver rises from the seat, an alarmwill sound. Unlike the present invention, Best requires a special audioalert apparatus and focuses on the driver. In contrast, the presentinvention integrates the child safety seat directly with the vehicle'ssound system in a manner that actual ignition status opens and closesthe circuit pertaining to the engagement of the child safety seat.Additional pressure sensing items that also require additional externalcomponents and therefore are substantially different from the presentinvention include U.S. Pat. No. 7,218,218 issued to Rogers on May 15,2007 and also U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,401 issued to Cole on Jan. 30, 2007.

Other items out there, to include U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,530 issued toAlmquist on Jun. 12, 2007 also require additional housing and externalaudio systems and again do not operate through the ignition status orinclude the safety check of the present invention. Meanwhile, U.S. Pat.No. 6,870,472 issued to Gift et al on Mar. 22, 2005 integrates motiondetecting technology to detect when a child has been left in a vehicle.This, as in the other examples, is vastly different from the presentinvention, which issues an alert through the vehicle speaker system whenthe child safety seat is engaged and the ignition is turned off.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,909,365 issued to Toles on Jun. 21, 2005 is a childsafety alarm seat and method. Toles issues an alarm for when a child isin a safety seat after the ignition is turned off. Unlike the presentinvention, Toles is not integrated into the audio system of the vehicle.Toles also requires an actual switch to be turned on and off uponplacing a child in a safety seat. Moreover, Toles requires constantpower source and more external items to function. The present inventionbecomes operational through engagement of the child safety seat and doesnot require that the caregiver actually use a switch. In addition, thepresent invention is integrated with non-essential outlets,non-essential fuses and/or the vehicle computer system in such a mannerthat when the ignition is turned off, the internal vehicle makeup willdivert a connected signal to the audio system of the vehicle, to includea stereo system, so that the alert is emitted through the existing audiosystem. In addition, the present invention also provides a system checkand diagnostic to ensure that all circuits are functioning properly.

There remains a need for a system of child safety that integrates achild safety seat with the internal wiring and/or computer system of thevehicle. The present invention differs from all other items in thisfield because it recognizes that a distracted driver may also forget toactually flip a switch or take care to ensure fuses and other componentsare operating properly. As such, the present invention incorporates asystem check and integrates part of the alert process with the existingaudio system of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a system for child safety. More specifically,the present invention integrates a child safety seat into the internalwiring of a vehicle. The child safety seat will be engaged or otherwiseturned on when a child is secured into the child safety seat. Wiringwill connect the vehicle to the child safety seat connection in thepreferred embodiment. It also is envisioned that a circuit can beeffectively closed upon engagement of the child safety seat via aconduit between the child safety seat connection and a non-criticalfuse, or even a conventional remote signal that is emitted uponengagement. In all of these embodiments, the alert occurs when the childsafety seat is engaged and the ignition is off. In the preferredembodiment, the alert will be an audible sound coming from the speakersassociated with the vehicle audio system.

The child safety seat can be either installed into the vehicle or onecapable of being inserted and removed from the vehicle. However, thechild seat will have the child safety seat connection so that the childsafety seat can be in communication with the vehicle via the vehicle'sinternal wiring and fuse component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a child safety seat of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the circuit connection of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of alarm activation settings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view of an additional embodiment of a child safety seat ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a child safety seat (10) thatcommunicates with the vehicle via conventional means. The child safetyseat (10) also is conventional and is of such dimensions and harnessingthat it can be either installed or removed and placed into the vehicleseating. A child safety seat connection (20) is incorporated into thechild safety seat (10). FIG. 1 displays one embodiment of the placementof the child safety seat connection (20). It should be noted that thechild safety seat connection (20) can be formed or otherwise located onthe child safety seat (10) at its harness, latch, bar or other securingelement as well as in virtually any other position. In addition, FIG. 4is an additional embodiment of the child safety seat (10) where it isbuilt in directly to the vehicle as a fold-out child safety seat (10) orotherwise installed into the vehicle interior on a more establishedbasis than a typical portable child safety seat (10).

The child safety seat connection (20) in the preferred embodiment servesas the entry point for a conduit to carry power and information from avehicle to the child safety seat (10). In one embodiment, the childsafety seat connection (20) is such that the conduit is connected to thechild safety seat connection (20) and leads to the vehicle computersystem. The child safety seat connection (20) can be included with theengagement mechanism (30) or placed at any location on the child safetyseat (10) regardless of it being a portable one such as seen in FIG. 1or one manufactured with the vehicle as seen in FIG. 4. In an additionalembodiment, the child safety seat connection (20) is such that theconduit leads to a non-critical plug or outlet such as a mobile phoneadapter outlet, external media player outlet or cigarette lighter plug.In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the child safetyseat connection (20) is such that the conduit leads to a non-criticalfuse such as a rear-window wiper or non-critical plug or outlet. In thismanner, the child safety seat (10) will be in communication and receivepower with the vehicle through the vehicle internal wiring via theconduit that carries power and information between the child safety seat(10) at its child safety seat connection (20) and the internal wiring ofthe vehicle. In an additional embodiment, the child safety seatconnection (20) is a conventional wireless receiver and/or transmitterthat communicates with a receiver and/or transmitter associated with thecomputer system of the vehicle. The child safety seat (10) can beengaged when an engagement mechanism (30) is activated. The engagementoccurs when the child safety seat (10) is connected to the internalwiring or computer system of the vehicle. The engagement mechanism (30)is essentially activated when a child is placed into the child safetyseat (10). For example, once the harness or locking-in aspect of thechild safety seat (10) is implemented, a signal will pass through thewired or wireless conduit to the vehicle internal wiring and/or computersystem. In this manner, when the engagement mechanism (30) is activated,the vehicle will respond with an alert once the ignition is powered offConversely, when the engagement mechanism (30) is deactivated while thechild safety seat connection (20) is in communication with the vehicle,the alert will not occur. The engagement mechanism (30) is deactivatedwhen the child is removed from the child safety seat (10) or theharness, latch, bar, or any other securing element of the child safetyseat (10) is disconnected or removed.

When the child safety seat (10) is engaged via the engagement mechanism(30), this indicates to the vehicle through the conduit that a child isrestrained or secured. Once the engagement mechanism (30) is activatedand the ignition is on the “off” position, a repeating audible alert istriggered. This alert is an audible signal being transmitted or emittedthrough the speakers of the vehicle, in addition to a flashing dashboardlight.

FIG. 2 is a view of the present invention that demonstrates an exampleof the circuit connection between the child safety seat connection (20)and the internal wiring and ultimately the speakers and dashboard of thevehicle. As we see in this embodiment, the child safety seat (10) iselectronically connected to the internal wiring and speaker system ofthe vehicle. The switch (200) in this view is closed when the childsafety seat (10) is secured, meaning that the engagement mechanism (30)has been latched, secured or otherwise harnessed. The switch (200) isopen when the child safety seat (10) is not in use and the engagementmechanism (30) is not secured, latched or otherwise harnessed. A conduitbetween the child safety seat connection (20) and the internal wiring ofthe vehicle, which in FIG. 2 is a purple connection, allows theconventional electronic signal to travel through the vehicle. A purpleconnection is made between the speaker (210) of the vehicle and thechild safety seat (10). This connection also leads to the actual audioplayer (220) of the vehicle. The audio player (220) can be anyconventional media-playing device that is incorporated into the vehicleso that sound is emitted from the audio player (220) to the speaker(210). A red connection also links the S.P. OUT (230) and the S.P. IN(240) of the audio player (220) and the speaker (210) respectively.

The purple connection runs from the child safety seat (10) to thenegative ends (250) of the speaker (210) and the audio player (220). Thepositive end of the speaker (210) connects a black connection through a70-ohm resistor (270) while the positive end (280) of the audio player(220) runs through a 50-ohm resistor (290). The black connection thenpasses through a normally open relay (300). The connection then meets ared/yellow wire connection and passes to a 7.5 AMP fuse (320), through ayellow connection and into a 30 AMP fuse (330). Meanwhile, the purpleconnection from the child safety seat (10) passes to a light (340) andalso to a brown connection and into an inductor (350). From there, ablack/red connection passes through a 5.0 AMP fuse (360) and a redconnection passes to a 15 AMP fuse (370).

In the preferred embodiment, the 30 AMP fuse (330) and the 15 AMP fuse(370) are used to provide power to the present invention. It should benoted that the 30 AMP fuse (330) has power all the time while the 15 AMPfuse (370) has power only when the vehicle ignition is on. The 5.0 AMPfuse (360) and the 7.5 AMP fuse (320) are used to protect the circuits.When the vehicle ignition is turned off, the normally open relay (300)will switch to a closed relay (310), which completes the circuit to theaudio player (220). If the child safety seat engagement (30) is engaged,a recorded or unrecorded audio message or alert will be emitted to alertthe driver that a child is in the child safety seat (10).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process of the present invention. Whathappens is that the child safety seat (10) is placed into the vehicle(100) either by professional installation, factory installation or viaindividual placement. The child safety seat (10) is then connected tothe vehicle (110) internal wiring or vehicle computer system through thechild safety seat connection (20) via wired conduit or wireless means. Asystem check commences (115) that ensures that the physical attributesof the present invention is functioning properly. The system check isfurther demonstrated in Table A below.

As we see in FIG. 3, the child safety seat (10) is not engaged (120) viathe engagement mechanism (30). When the child safety seat (10) is notengaged (120), there is no alert (130) from the vehicle. In addition, ifthe vehicle ignition is turned on (140), there also is no alert (150).But after the child safety seat (10) is engaged (155) and the vehicleignition is turned off (160), the alert from the vehicle will be soundedor emitted (170).

As mentioned above, in addition to the audible alert, a visual alertalso will occur via conventional means at the same time in the preferredembodiment. This visual alert will blink, flash or otherwise be brightor noticeable enough for the driver to see. As FIG. 3 indicates, thevisual alert also is directly connected with the child safety seat (10)and the internal wiring of the vehicle. The visual alert also is helpfulfor hearing impaired drivers. The visual alert in the preferredembodiment will appear on the dashboard of the vehicle. It is envisionedthat a designated bulb or conventional image display with its owndesignated fuse will serve to display the visual alert. However, thepreferred embodiment is to connect the present invention in the mannerdescribed above to an existing fuse and visual display.

An additional embodiment of the present invention relates to alsosending an alert to a designated mobile phone, email address or textmessage. In this embodiment, much of the present invention operates asdescribed above in either its wired or wireless embodiments. A signalfrom the child safety seat (10) via conventional transmitter will beemitted when the engagement mechanism (30) is activated and the vehicleignition is turned off. The conventional transmission element can beprogrammed to transmit the signal to a designated receiving outlet thatwill ultimately reach an email, mobile phone, phone number or text. Inaddition, it is envisioned that this transmission from the child safetyseat (10) under the above conditions can be on a timed or delay status.This means that the transmission will not be sent until some designatedtime such as five minutes and no less than a minute after the vehicleignition is turned off while the engagement mechanism (30) is activated.This is to allow the driver ample time to turn off the ignition andremove the child from the child safety seat, but not too much time. Themobile signal alert embodiment is displayed in Table A.

TABLE A Ignition Vehicle Key Mode Engine Mobile Signal Child Safety SeatPosition Parameter Running Alert Engaged/Locked OFF Off No Sent (delayedor no delay) Engaged/Locked ACC Accessory No Not Sent Engaged/Locked ONRunning Yes Not Sent Not Engaged/ OFF Off No Not Sent Unlocked NotEngaged/ ACC Accessory No Not Sent Unlocked Not Engaged/ ON Running YesNot Sent Unlocked

Table B is presented to demonstrate the alert activation setting of thepreferred embodiment. The system check is such that all relevantcomponents and connections of the present invention are operational inan automatic manner. The system check occurs at the time a child isplaced in the child safety seat (10) with the engagement mechanism (30)activated. The engagement mechanism (30) in the preferred embodiment iswhen the seat/harness is activated in a locked or closed position. Thesystem check begins when the engagement mechanism (30) is activated butbefore the ignition is started. The actual hardware connection betweenthe child safety seat (10) and the internal wiring or wirelesscommunication with the vehicle is conventional.

Once the system check begins, the audio alert will begin. This meansthat the time between activation of the engagement mechanism (30) andthe ignition being turned on will result in an alert through the vehiclespeaker (210). If the alert is not heard before the vehicle is startedbut after the engagement mechanism (30) is activated, then a fuse,resistor, battery, child safety seat connection (20) or some otherwiring harness is bad or failing. In other practical terms, a driverwill be used to hearing the alert between activated the engagementmechanism (30) and ignition of the vehicle. But the quiet from a badelement of the present invention is much more likely to attract theattention of the driver due to the fact that a driver will have becomeaccustomed to hearing such a system check alert.

TABLE B Ignition Vehicle Elapsed Time - Key Power Mode Engine AlarmChild Safety Seat Position Parameter Running Reminder Engaged/Locked OFFOff No Immediate Engaged/Locked ACC Accessory No N/A Engaged/Locked ONRunning Yes N/A Not Engaged/ OFF Off No N/A Unlocked Not Engaged/ ACCAccessory No N/A Unlocked Not Engaged/ ON Running Yes N/A Unlocked

1. A child safety seat, comprising: a child safety seat connection; achild safety seat; an engagement mechanism; an alert; a wirelessconnection; a computer system; a switch between a wiring and the childsafety seat; at least one fuse; and a system check.
 2. The child safetyseat of claim 1, wherein said child safety seat connection is incommunication with said child safety seat and said engagement mechanism.3. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said computer system is incommunication with said engagement mechanism and said wirelessconnection.
 4. The child safety seat of claim 1, wherein said switchbetween said wiring and said child safety seat is in communication withsaid at least one fuse.
 5. The child safety seat of claim 2, whereinsaid computer system is in communication with said engagement mechanismand said wireless connection.
 6. The child safety seat of claim 2,wherein said switch between said wiring and said child safety seat is incommunication with said at least one fuse.
 7. The child safety seat ofclaim 3, wherein said child safety seat connection is in communicationwith said child safety seat and said engagement mechanism.
 8. The childsafety seat of claim 3, wherein said switch between said wiring and saidchild safety seat is in communication with said at least one fuse. 9.The child safety seat of claim 3, wherein said computer system is incommunication with said engagement mechanism and said wirelessconnection.
 10. The child safety seat of claim 4, wherein said childsafety seat connection is in communication with said child safety seatand said engagement mechanism.
 11. The child safety seat of claim 4,wherein said computer system is in communication with said engagementmechanism and said wireless connection.
 12. A child safety seat,comprising: a child safety seat connection; a child safety seat; anengagement mechanism; said child safety seat connection is incommunication with said child safety seat and said engagement mechanism;an alert; a wireless connection; a computer system; said computer systemis in communication with said engagement mechanism and said wirelessconnection. a switch between a wiring and the child safety seat; atleast one fuse; said switch between said wiring and said child safetyseat is in communication with said at least one fuse; and a systemcheck.